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Brazilian black tarantula (Grammostola pulchra)
Where found : The grass plains of Brazil and Uruguay.
Diet : These ambush predators hunt at night for insects (crickets), small lizards, and mice. At the Central Park Zoo, this tarantula is fed crickets and newborn mice.
Length: Adults may grow up to 5-6 inches.
Interesting note: Tarantulas can only see a few inches in front of their eyes; so they usually keep within a few feet of their burrows their whole lives. A tarantula that is feeling threatened will “kick” off some of their many hairs. These are barbed and penetrate the skin of the attacker to cause severe itching.
Life span: Females may live up to 20 yrs.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina Portentosa)
Where found : The island of Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. These insects stay on the tropical forest floor searching for food.
Diet: Various plant and animal matter.
Interesting notes : Cockroaches have existed over 340 million years. When threatened, these cockroaches are able to push air out of the holes in their sides (spiracles) and make a hissing sound. They could do this to distract a predator, communicate during breeding season, and potentially claim territory.
Length : Up to 2. 5 inches.
Life span : Unknown in the wild, but up to 2 years in captivity.
Additional references :“Madagascar Hissing Cockroach”, Woodland Park Zoo, 2006. www.zoo.org.

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